NETWORK DEVICE ENERGY-SAVING METHOD AND NETWORK DEVICE

Abstract

 This application provides an energy saving method for a network device and a network device, to reduce power consumption of the network device in an energy saving mode to a watt level. The network device includes a processor, a direct current power supply, a latch, and a chip. The method includes: The processor sends a first instruction to the latch. The first instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, the first signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to turn off a power supply, and the direct current power supply is a power supplying source of the chip and the processor in the network device. The latch receives the first instruction sent by the processor. The latch outputs the first signal to the direct current power supply based on the first instruction. The direct current power supply turns off the power supply based on the first signal, and stops supplying power to the chip and the processor, so that the network device enters the energy saving mode.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication, and more specifically, to an energy saving method for a network device and a network device.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Small indoor base station modules, referred to as pico radio frequency retractor unit (pico RF retractor unit, pRRU) modules, are increasingly widely used in 4G/5G communication scenarios and are widely deployed for use in densely populated areas, such as shopping malls, airports, high-speed railway stations, subways, stadiums, hotels, or campuses. With the increasing shipment of products, energy saving becomes an increasingly important feature.

[0003] Currently, most indoor small cells adopt a deep dormancy solution. A central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU)/ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) microprocessor controls all other chips on a board through an enabling switch signal, so that the other chips work in a disabled or reset state, thereby reducing module power consumption in an energy saving scenario.

[0004] However, in the deep dormancy solution, shutdown is not thorough. After a network device saves energy, a secondary power supply, a tertiary power supply, the CPU/ARM, and a shutdown-uncontrollable chip still work normally. Even if a shutdown-controllable chip can be shut down, such as a field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA), an analog to digital converter (analog to digital converter, ADC), or a digital to analog converter (digital to analog converter, DAC), a leakage current is still maintained after the shutdown. Overall power consumption of the deep dormancy is still rather high. After energy saving in the deep dormancy solution, the power consumption is greater than 10 watts (W).

SUMMARY

[0005] This application provides an energy saving method for a network device and a network device, so that power consumption of the network device in an energy saving mode can be reduced to a watt level, and a long-term reliability life requirement of the network device can be ensured.

[0006] According to a first aspect, an energy saving method for a network device is provided. The network device includes a processor, a direct current power supply, a latch, and a chip. The method includes: The processor sends a first instruction to the latch, the first instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, and the first signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to turn off a power supply. The direct current power supply is a power supplying source of the chip and the processor in the network device. The latch receives the first instruction sent by the processor. The latch outputs the first signal to the direct current power supply based on the first instruction. The direct current power supply turns off the power supply based on the first signal, and stops supplying power to the chip and the processor, to enable the network device to enter an energy saving mode.

[0007] According to the technical solutions provided in embodiments of this application, in an energy saving scenario, a controller controls the latch to output the first signal, so that the direct current power supply may be turned off, and the power consumption of the network device can be reduced to the watt level.

[0008] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: A power sourcing equipment PSE outputs a second signal, and the second signal is for controlling the latch to stop outputting the first signal. The PSE is a main power supply of the latch and the direct current power supply. The latch stops outputting the first signal based on the second signal. The PSE outputs a third signal, and the third signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply. The direct current power supply restores the power supply based on the third signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0009] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the receiving, by the latch, the first instruction sent by the processor includes: The latch stores the first instruction, and the stopping, by the latch, outputting the first signal based on the second signal includes: The latch clears the stored first instruction.

[0010] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first instruction is a power-down instruction, the first signal is a high-level signal, the second signal is a low-level signal, and the third signal is a high-level signal.

[0011] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the network device further includes a temperature sensor. The method further includes: The processor calculates, based on a life requirement of a module in the network device, a maximum temperature difference allowed to be borne by the module. When the network device enters an energy saving mode, the processor obtains a first temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor. The processor determines a threshold temperature value of the module based on the maximum temperature difference and the first temperature value. The threshold temperature value = the first temperature value - the maximum temperature difference. The processor writes the threshold temperature value into the temperature sensor. When the temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value, the temperature sensor controls the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0012] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the controlling, by the temperature sensor, the network device to exit the energy saving mode when the temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value includes: The temperature sensor sends a second instruction to the latch when the temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value, the second instruction instructs the latch to output a fourth signal, and the fourth signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply. The latch receives the second instruction sent by the temperature sensor. The latch outputs the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction. The direct current power supply restores the power supply based on the fourth signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode. The threshold temperature value is set through the temperature sensor. When the threshold temperature value is reached, reliability protection is triggered, and temperature difference control is performed on a power-on temperature rise of the module (chip) in the network device, so that a long-term reliability life requirement of a component can be ensured.

[0013] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the outputting, by the latch, the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction includes: The latch clears the received first instruction based on the second instruction, and/or stops outputting the first signal. The latch outputs the fourth signal.

[0014] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the second instruction is a latch clearing instruction, and the fourth signal is a low-level signal.

[0015] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the module includes at least one of the following: the chip, the processor, and the direct current power supply.

[0016] According to a second aspect, a network device is provided, including: a processor is configured to send a first instruction to a latch, the first instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, and the first signal is for controlling a direct current power supply to turn off a power supply. The direct current power supply is a power supplying source of a chip and the processor in the network device. The latch is configured to receive the first instruction sent by the processor. The latch is further configured to output the first signal to the direct current power supply based on the first instruction. The direct current power supply is configured to turn off the power supply based on the first signal, and stop supplying power to the chip and the processor, to enable the network device to enter an energy saving mode.

[0017] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, a main power supply of the latch and the direct current power supply is power sourcing equipment PSE, the PSE is configured to output a second signal, and the second signal is for controlling the latch to stop outputting the first signal. The latch is further configured to stop outputting the first signal based on the second signal. The PSE is further configured to output a third signal, and the third signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to resume power supply. The direct current power supply is further configured to restore the power supply based on the third signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0018] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the latch is specifically configured to store the first instruction. The latch is further specifically configured to clear the stored first instruction.

[0019] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first instruction is a power-down instruction, the first signal is a high-level signal, the second signal is a low-level signal, and the third signal is a high-level signal.

[0020] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the network device further includes a temperature sensor. The processor is further configured to calculate, based on a life requirement of a module in the network device, a maximum temperature difference allowed to be borne by the module. The processor is further configured to obtain, when the network device enters an energy saving mode, a first temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor. The processor is further configured to determine a threshold temperature value of the module based on the maximum temperature difference and the first temperature value. The threshold temperature value = the first temperature value - the maximum temperature difference. The processor is further configured to write the threshold temperature value into the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is configured to control, when the measured temperature value of the module is equal to the threshold temperature value, the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0021] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the temperature sensor is specifically configured to send, when the measured temperature value of the module is equal to the threshold temperature value, a second instruction to the latch. The second instruction instructs the latch to output a fourth signal, and the fourth signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply. The latch is further configured to receive the second instruction sent by the temperature sensor. The latch is further configured to output the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction. The direct current power supply is further configured to restore the power supply based on the fourth signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0022] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the latch is specifically configured to: clear the received first instruction based on the second instruction, and/or stop outputting the first signal; and output the fourth signal.

[0023] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second instruction is a latch clearing instruction, and the fourth signal is a low-level signal.

[0024] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the module includes at least one of the following: the chip, the processor, and the direct current power supply.

[0025] According to a third aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor and a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive computer code or instructions and transmit the computer code or the instructions to the processor, and the processor runs the computer code or the instructions, to perform the method according to the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0026] According to a fourth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method according to the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] 

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit enabling a chip in a network device to be in an energy saving mode;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of an energy saving method for a network device according to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a circuit enabling a chip in a network device to be in an energy saving mode according to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of this application; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The following describes technical solutions of this application with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0029] Embodiments of this application may be applied to various communication systems, for example, a sidelink communication system (sidelink communication), a vehicle to everything (vehicle to everything, V2X) system, a wireless local area network system (wireless local area network, WLAN), a narrowband-internet of things system (narrow band-internet of things, NB-IoT), a global system for mobile communications (global system for mobile communications, GSM), an enhanced data rate for gsm evolution system (enhanced data rate for gsm evolution, EDGE), a wideband code division multiple access system (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA), a code division multiple access 2000 system (code division multiple access, CDMA2000), a time division-synchronization code division multiple access system (time division-synchronization code division multiple access, TD-SCDMA), a long term evolution system (long term evolution, LTE), satellite communication, a 5th generation (5th generation, 5G) system, or a new communication system that appears in the future.

[0030] A terminal device in embodiments of this application may be a device that includes a wireless transceiver function and that may provide a communication service for a user. Specifically, the terminal device may be a device in a V2X system, a device in a device to device (device to device, D2D) system, a device in a machine type communication (machine type communication, MTC) system, or the like. The terminal device may include various handheld devices with a wireless communication function, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, computing devices, or another processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal may be a mobile station (mobile station, MS), a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), user equipment (user equipment, UE), a cellular phone (cellular phone), a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a smart phone (smart phone), a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA) computer, a tablet computer, a wireless modem (modem), a handset (handset), a laptop computer (laptop computer), a machine type communication (machine type communication, MTC) terminal, or the like.

[0031] Small indoor base station modules, referred to as pico radio frequency retractor unit (pico RF retractor unit, pRRU) modules, are increasingly widely used in 4G/5G communication scenarios and are widely deployed in densely populated areas, such as shopping malls, airports, high-speed railway stations, subways, stadiums, hotels, or campuses. With the increasing shipment of products, energy saving becomes an increasingly important feature.

[0032] Currently, most indoor small cells adopt a deep dormancy solution. A central processing unit (central processing unit, CPU)/ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) microprocessor controls all other chips on a board through an enabling switch signal, so that other chips work in a disabled or reset state, thereby reducing module power consumption in an energy saving scenario. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit enabling a chip in a network device to be in an energy saving mode.

[0033] However, in the deep dormancy solution, shutdown is not thorough. After a network device saves energy, a secondary power supply, a tertiary power supply, the CPU/ARM, and a shutdown-uncontrollable chip still work normally. Even if a shutdown-controllable chip can be shut down, such as a field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA), an analog to digital converter (analog to digital converter, ADC), or a digital to analog converter (digital to analog converter, DAC), a leakage current is still maintained after the shutdown. The overall power consumption of the deep dormancy is still rather high. After energy saving in the deep dormancy solution, the power consumption is greater than 10 watts (W). After -48 V is inputted, the communication device generally converts and outputs a 5 V to 12 V positive voltage to supply power to the board, and the power supply is generally referred to as a bus power supply. The bus power supply is converted by using a switching power supply chip, and the bus power supply is converted into a power supply that supplies power to each chip, and is generally referred to as a tertiary power supply.

[0034] In addition, power-off energy saving is further implemented by turning off a power supplying source of -48 V of the pRRU module. This energy saving solution can reduce the power consumption to a 0 W energy saving level. However, the temperature difference of the module is large each time energy saving is performed. After the module is used for a long time, reliability of a solder joint of the chip in the module is reduced, and the chip is shortcircuited due to condensation inside the module when the humidity is high. Therefore, a 10-year life requirement of the base station cannot be satisfied.

[0035] This application provides an energy saving method for a network device, to reduce power consumption of a network device in an energy saving mode. FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of an energy saving method for a network device according to an embodiment of this application. The network device includes a processor, a direct current power supply, a latch, and a chip. The method includes the following steps.

[0036] 210. The processor sends a first instruction to the latch. The instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, the first signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to turn off a power supply, and the direct current power supply is a power supplying source of the chip and the processor in the network device, that is, after being turned off, the direct current power supply stops supplying power to the chip and the processor. It should be understood that the direct current power supply may be a tertiary power supply.

[0037] Optionally, the first instruction may be a power-down (power-down) instruction. The processor may be a CPU or an ARM processor.

[0038] 220. The latch receives the first instruction sent by the processor. Specifically, optionally, the latch stores the first instruction.

[0039] 230. The latch outputs, based on the first instruction, the first signal to the direct current power supply. Optionally, the first signal may be an enabling switch signal, and the enabling switch signal is a high-level signal. The latch is a logic element having a memory function in a digital circuit. Latching is to temporarily store a signal to maintain a level state, and binary digital signals "0" and " 1" may be recorded in the digital circuit. The latch is powered by a bus power supply to ensure that an output of the enabling switch signal or the high-level signal is still valid after energy saving is enabled. A specific implementation of the latch may be implemented in a manner of shifting a plurality of D flip-flops. An advantage of using this manner is that the CPU/ARM processor may control a quantity of clocks (clocks, CLKs) to control an output of an enabling switch, so as to avoid a case that a false pulse is generated during power-on and power-off to output an incorrect enabling switch and consequently the network device enters an energy saving state by mistake.

[0040] 240. The direct current power supply turns off the power supply based on the first signal, to enable the network device to enter an energy saving mode.

[0041] It should be understood that, that the direct current power supply turns off the power supply may be understood as that the direct current power supply turns off an output of the power supply, and is disconnected from the power supplying source of the direct current power supply or the power supply of the direct current power supply is turned off. In this case, the chip, the processor, and the direct current power supply in the network device all stop working, so that the network device enters the energy saving mode.

[0042] According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of this application, in an energy saving scenario, a controller controls the latch to output the first signal, so that the power supply of the direct current power supply may be turned off, and the power consumption of the network device can be reduced to a watt level.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a circuit enabling a chip in a network device to be in an energy saving mode according to an embodiment of this application. When a network device is in the energy saving mode, both a chip and a processor that are powered by a tertiary power supply stop working, and the tertiary power supply is disconnected from a power supplying source of the tertiary power supply or a power supply of the tertiary power supply is turned off.

[0044] In an implementation, optionally, a power sourcing equipment (power sourcing equipment, PSE) of the network device may output a second signal, where the second signal is for controlling a latch to stop outputting a first signal. The PSE is a main power supply of the latch and a direct current power supply. The latch stops, based on the second signal, outputting the first signal. Specifically, optionally, the latch clears the stored first instruction. Optionally, the second signal may be a low-level signal. Optionally, the PSE may output a third signal, where the third signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply. The direct current power supply may restore power supply based on the third signal, to enable the network device to exit an energy saving mode. Optionally, the third signal is a high-level signal. In this solution, when the network device needs to exit the energy saving mode, the network device may directly exit the energy saving mode.

[0045] For example, the PSE is first powered off, clears a power-down instruction in the latch, and then power-on, so that the network device is powered on again and returns to a normal working state.

[0046] In another implementation, optionally, the network device may further include a temperature sensor. The processor calculates, based on a life requirement of a module in the network device, a maximum temperature difference allowed to be borne by the module. When the network device enters the energy saving mode, the processor obtains a first temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor. The processor determines a threshold temperature value of the module based on the maximum temperature difference and the first temperature value. The threshold temperature value = the first temperature value - the maximum temperature difference. The processor writes the threshold temperature value into the temperature sensor. When the temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value, the temperature sensor controls the network device to exit the energy saving mode. The module may be any one or more of a chip, a processor, and a direct current power supply. It should be understood that different modules may bear different maximum temperature differences.

[0047] Specifically, if the temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value, the temperature sensor sends a second instruction to the latch. The second instruction instructs the latch to output a fourth signal, and the fourth signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply. The second instruction may be a latch clearing instruction, and may instruct to clear the first instruction stored in the latch or stop outputting the first signal. The latch receives the second instruction sent by the temperature sensor, and outputs the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction. Specifically, the latch clears, based on the second instruction, the received first instruction, or stops outputting the first signal, or first clears the first instruction, then stops outputting the first signal, and finally outputs the fourth signal. The direct current power supply restores, based on the fourth signal, power supply to the processor and the chip, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode. The fourth signal may be a low-level signal.

[0048] For example, the processor evaluates, based on a 10-year life requirement, a temperature difference that can be borne by the module. For example, the processor evaluates that a maximum temperature difference that can be borne by a chip in the network device is 50°C. When the network device enters the energy saving mode, if the first temperature value of the chip measured by the temperature sensor is 80°C, the threshold temperature value of the temperature sensor is set to 30°C. When the temperature of the chip decreases to 30°C, the temperature sensor sends a latch clearing instruction, an enabling switch of the latch is turned off, the direct current power supply is powered on again, and the network device exits the energy saving mode and returns to the normal working state.

[0049] In this solution, a threshold temperature value may be set by using a temperature sensor. When the threshold temperature value is reached, reliability protection is triggered, and temperature difference control is performed on power-on temperature rise of a module (chip) in a network device, so that a long-term reliability life requirement of a component can be ensured.

[0050] Embodiments of this application provide a network device. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a network device 400 according to an embodiment of this application. The network device 400 includes a processor 410, a latch 420, a direct current power supply 430, and a chip 440.

[0051] The processor 410 is configured to send a first instruction to the latch. The first instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, and the first signal is for controlling the direct current power supply 430 to turn off a power supply. The direct current power supply is a power supplying source of the chip 440 and the processor in the network device.

[0052] The latch 420 is configured to receive the first instruction sent by the processor.

[0053] The latch 420 is further configured to output, based on the first instruction, the first signal to the direct current power supply.

[0054] The direct current power supply 430 is configured to turn off the power supply based on the first signal, to enable the network device to enter the energy saving mode.

[0055] Optionally, a main power supply of the latch 420 and the direct current power supply is power sourcing equipment PSE. The PSE is configured to output a second signal, and the second signal is for controlling the latch 420 to stop outputting the first signal;

the latch 420 is further configured to stop, based on the second signal, outputting the first signal;

the PSE is further configured to output a third signal. The third signal is for controlling the direct current power supply 430 to restore power supply; and

the direct current power supply 430 is further configured to restore the power supply based on the third signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0056] Optionally, the latch 420 is specifically configured to store the first instruction. The latch 420 is further specifically configured to clear the stored first instruction.

[0057] Optionally, the first instruction is a power-down instruction, the first signal is a high-level signal, the second signal is a low-level signal, and the third signal is a high-level signal.

[0058] Optionally, the network device further includes a temperature sensor. The processor 410 is further configured to calculate, based on a life requirement of a module in the network device, a maximum temperature difference allowed to be borne by the module. The processor 410 is further configured to obtain, when the network device enters an energy saving mode, a first temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor. The processor is further configured to determine, based on the maximum temperature difference and the first temperature value, a threshold temperature value of the module. The threshold temperature value = the first temperature value - the maximum temperature difference. The processor 410 is further configured to write the threshold temperature value into the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is configured to control, when the measured temperature value of the module is equal to the threshold temperature value, the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0059] Optionally, the temperature sensor is specifically configured to send, when the measured temperature value of the module is equal to the threshold temperature value, a second instruction to the latch. The second instruction instructs the latch 420 to output a fourth signal, and the fourth signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply;

the latch 420 is further configured to receive the second instruction sent by the temperature sensor;

the latch 420 is further configured to output the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction; and

the direct current power supply 430 is further configured to restore power supply based on the fourth signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

[0060] Optionally, the latch 420 is further configured to: clear the received first instruction based on the second instruction, and/or stop outputting the first signal; and output the fourth signal.

[0061] Optionally, the second instruction is a latch clearing instruction, and the fourth signal is a low-level signal.

[0062] Optionally, the module includes at least one of the following: the chip, the processor 410, and the direct current power supply 430.

[0063] Embodiment of this application provide a communication device 500. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 500 according to an embodiment of this application.

[0064] The device 500 includes a processor 510 and a transceiver 520. The transceiver 520 is configured to receive computer code or instructions, and transmit the computer code or the instructions to the processor 510. The processor 510 runs the computer code or the instructions, for example, the method in any possible implementation of embodiments of this application.

[0065] The foregoing processor 510 may be an integrated circuit chip and has a capability of processing a signal. In an implementation process, steps in the foregoing method embodiments can be implemented by using a hardware integrated logical circuit in the processor, or by using instructions in a form of software. The foregoing processor may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (digital signal processor, DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), a field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. It may implement or perform the methods, the steps, and logical block diagrams that are disclosed in embodiments of this application. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, or the like. Steps of the methods disclosed with reference to embodiments of this application may be directly executed and accomplished by using a hardware decoding processor, or may be executed and accomplished by using a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. A software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps in the foregoing methods in combination with hardware of the processor.

[0066] Embodiments of this application further provide a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program used to implement the method in the foregoing method embodiments. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to implement the method in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0067] In addition, the term "and/or" in this application describes only an association relationship for describing associated objects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may represent the following three cases: Only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the character "/" in this specification generally indicates an "or" relationship between the associated objects. The term "at least one" in this application may represent "one" and "two or more". For example, at least one of A, B, and C may indicate the following seven cases: Only A exists, only B exists, only C exists, both A and B exist, both A and C exist, both C and B exist, and A, B, and C exist.

[0068] Terminologies such as "component", "module", and "system" used in this specification are used to indicate computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, combinations of hardware and software, software, or software being executed. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process that runs on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program, and/or a computer. As illustrated by using figures, both an application and a computing device that runs on the computing device may be components. One or more components may reside within a process and/or a thread of execution, and a component may be located on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components may be executed from various computer-readable media that store various data structures. For example, the components may communicate by using a local and/or remote process and based on, for example, a signal having one or more data packets (for example, data from two components interacting with another component in a local system, a distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet interacting with other systems by using the signal).

[0069] A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combination with the examples described in embodiments disclosed in this specification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on particular applications and design constraint conditions of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of this application.

[0070] It may be clearly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, refer to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

[0071] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatus embodiment is merely an example. For example, division into the units is merely logical function division and may be other division in actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electrical, mechanical, or another form.

[0072] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of embodiments.

[0073] In addition, functional units in embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

[0074] When the functions are implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solutions of this application essentially, or the part contributing to the prior art, or some of the technical solutions may be implemented in a form of a software product. The software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in embodiments of this application. The foregoing storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

[0075] The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An energy saving method for a network device, wherein the network device comprises a processor, a direct current power supply, a latch, and a chip, and the method comprises:

sending, by the processor, a first instruction to the latch, wherein the first instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, the first signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to turn off a power supply, and the direct current power supply is a power supplying source of the chip and the processor;

receiving, by the latch, the first instruction sent by the processor;

outputting, by the latch, the first signal to the direct current power supply based on the first instruction; and

turning off, by the direct current power supply, the power supply based on the first signal, and stopping supplying power to the chip and the processor, to enable the network device to enter an energy saving mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

outputting, by a power sourcing equipment PSE, a second signal, wherein the second signal is for controlling the latch to stop outputting the first signal, and the PSE is a main power supply of the latch and the direct current power supply;

stopping, by the latch, outputting the first signal based on the second signal;

outputting, by the PSE, a third signal, wherein the third signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply; and

restoring, by the direct current power supply, power supply based on the third signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein

the receiving, by the latch, the first instruction sent by the processor comprises: storing, by the latch, the first instruction; and

the stopping, by the latch, outputting the first signal based on the second signal comprises: clearing, by the latch, the stored first instruction.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the first instruction is a power-down instruction, the first signal is a high-level signal, the second signal is a low-level signal, and the third signal is a high-level signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network device further comprises a temperature sensor, and the method further comprises:

calculating, by the processor based on a life requirement of a module in the network device, a maximum temperature difference allowed to be borne by the module;

when the network device enters the energy saving mode, obtaining, by the processor, a first temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor;

determining, by the processor, a threshold temperature value of the module based on the maximum temperature difference and the first temperature value, wherein the threshold temperature value = the first temperature value - the maximum temperature difference;

writing, by the processor, the threshold temperature value into the temperature sensor; and

controlling, by the temperature sensor, the network device to exit the energy saving mode when a temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the controlling, by the temperature sensor, the network device to exit the energy saving mode when a temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value comprises:

when the temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor is equal to the threshold temperature value, sending, by the temperature sensor, a second instruction to the latch, wherein the second instruction instructs the latch to output a fourth signal, and the fourth signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply;

receiving, by the latch, the second instruction sent by the temperature sensor;

outputting, by the latch, the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction; and

restoring, by the direct current power supply, power supply based on the fourth signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the outputting, by the latch, the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction comprises:

clearing, by the latch, the received first instruction based on the second instruction, and/or stopping outputting the first signal; and

outputting, by the latch, the fourth signal.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second instruction is a latch clearing instruction, and the fourth signal is a low-level signal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the module comprises at least one of the following:
the chip, the processor, and the direct current power supply.

10. A network device, comprising:

a processor, configured to send a first instruction to a latch, wherein the first instruction instructs the latch to output a first signal, the first signal is for controlling a direct current power supply to turn off a power supply, and the direct current power supply is a power supplying source of a chip and the processor in the network device;

the latch, configured to receive the first instruction sent by the processor;

the latch is further configured to output the first signal to the direct current power supply based on the first instruction; and

the direct current power supply is configured to turn off the power supply based on the first signal, and stop supplying power to the chip and the processor, to enable the network device to enter an energy saving mode.

11. The network device according to claim 10, wherein a main power supply of the latch and the direct current power supply is power sourcing equipment PSE, wherein the PSE is configured to output a second signal, and the second signal is for controlling the latch to stop outputting the first signal;

the latch is further configured to stop outputting the first signal based on the second signal;

the PSE is further configured to output a third signal, wherein the third signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply; and

the direct current power supply is further configured to restore power supply based on the third signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

12. The network device according to claim 11, wherein

the latch is specifically configured to store the first instruction; and

the latch is further specifically configured to clear the stored first instruction.

13. The network device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein
the first instruction is a power-down instruction, the first signal is a high-level signal, the second signal is a low-level signal, and the third signal is a high-level signal.

14. The network device according to claim 10, wherein the network device further comprises a temperature sensor;

the processor is further configured to calculate, based on a life requirement of a module in the network device, a maximum temperature difference allowed to be borne by the module;

the processor is further configured to obtain, when the network device enters the energy saving mode, a first temperature value of the module measured by the temperature sensor;

the processor is further configured to determine a threshold temperature value of the module based on the maximum temperature difference and the first temperature value, wherein the threshold temperature value = the first temperature value - the maximum temperature difference;

the processor is further configured to write the threshold temperature value into the temperature sensor; and

the temperature sensor is configured to control, when a measured temperature value of the module is equal to the threshold temperature value, the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

15. The network device according to claim 14, wherein

the temperature sensor is specifically configured to send, when the measured temperature value of the module is equal to the threshold temperature value, a second instruction to the latch, wherein the second instruction instructs the latch to output a fourth signal, and the fourth signal is for controlling the direct current power supply to restore power supply;

the latch is further configured to receive the second instruction sent by the temperature sensor;

the latch is further configured to output the fourth signal to the direct current power supply based on the second instruction; and

the direct current power supply is further configured to restore power supply based on the fourth signal, to enable the network device to exit the energy saving mode.

16. The network device according to claim 15, wherein the latch is specifically configured to:

clear the received first instruction based on the second instruction, and/or stop outputting the first signal; and

output the fourth signal.

17. The network device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the second instruction is a latch clearing instruction, and the fourth signal is a low-level signal.

18. The network device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the module comprises at least one of the following:
the chip, the processor, and the direct current power supply.

19. A communication device, comprising a processor and a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive computer code or instructions and transmit the computer code or the instructions to the processor, and the processor runs the computer code or the instructions to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

the computer-readable medium stores a computer program, wherein

when the computer program runs on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Drawing